Planting a new Ocean Friendly Garden with Kahākūkahi Ocean Academy

Surfrider Maui Chapter hosted its very first Ocean Friendly Gardens workday in collaboration with Kahākūkahi Ocean Academy (KOA), a youth engagement center that empowers keiki (children) through ocean sports, environmental stewardship, and a deep connection to the ʻāina (land) and kai (sea). The new Ocean Friendly Garden will serve as an outdoor classroom for Kahākūkahi to teach about native Hawaiian plants, their cultural and ecological significance, and their connection to supporting a healthier ocean. 

The Kahākūkahi Ocean Academy (KOA) opened a new facility in February of this year, next to D.T. Fleming Beach Park in Kapalua. This facility is open daily to our entire community for youth groups, school groups, hula halau, pre-k education, and junior lifeguard training, and supported by dedicated staff and volunteers. Two shipping containers have been transformed into classroom and gathering spaces, and sit alongside a freshwater stream mouth just feet from the ocean. 

When Zane Schweitzer, Executive Director of KOA, posted about wanting to start a native plant garden at their new Ocean Academy facility, it seemed like the perfect opportunity for the Maui chapter to offer support and energy to an impactful initiative. We are thankful for their team’s trust and collaboration as we worked through site visits, consulting with experts, and planning our first volunteer workday.

This project aims to give community members a chance to steward this sacred land and to raise awareness for ocean-friendly practices, and how our actions on land are connected to the health of the ocean. Together with KOA, Surfrider volunteers, and community members, we are working to clear out invasive species, plant native plants, and create a OFG that can be utilized by all ages. 

The native plants and trees will provide living examples to teach youth groups and community groups about cultural benefits, uses, and Hawaiian ethnobotany. We are passionate about learning more through this collaboration project and sharing this knowledge with the community. 

The Maui Chapter is proud to support this project with plants, project materials, and volunteers, and we are already in the process of planning the next phase of this project! We are looking forward to watching this OFG grow, seeing the community's response, and continuing this awesome collaboration.

Want to get involved? Reach out to Surfrider Maui Chapter’s OFG coordinator ofg@maui.surfrider.org and keep a lookout on our events calendar for our next OFG planting day at KOA. KOA is open to the public Monday - Saturday from 11am - 5pm.